What Is Feminist Sociology? - by Jo Reger

Book Synopsis

What does it mean to say that there is a feminist sociology? And how might we engage the full potential of a "feminist sociological imagination"?

These questions lie at the heart of Jo Reger's slim guide to a powerful tool, which has a long history in US sociology and yet remains as urgently needed as ever. Grounded in a need to change both society and the discipline, feminist sociology challenges the foundations of traditional social science and articulates new ways of creating knowledge, doing research, and understanding the role of researchers and the people they study. Drawing on concepts such as positionality and reflexivity and emphasizing the importance of feminist ethics, emotions, activism, and transformation, this concise book traces out what it means to engage in feminist sociology and to claim the identity of a feminist sociologist.

Review Quotes

"A sweeping account that offers both a history of sociology and powerful examples from contemporary research studies to illustrate the elements of feminist sociology. As the wider discipline grapples with its role in society, Reger shows how deeply relevant feminist sociology remains."
Zakiya Luna, Washington University in St. Louis

"Renowned feminist scholar Jo Reger tackles the question 'what is feminist sociology?' Her answer - written in clear prose that elevates this book as a foundational primer for students of gender - illuminates the history of feminist sociology and its present as a dynamic field of subversive knowledge that transforms standard pedagogy as it fuels liberatory action."
Michael A. Messner, University of Southern California

About the Author

Jo Reger is Professor of Sociology at Oakland University.